Native American Legends
Legend of the Turtle
A Micmac Legend
Long ago turtle was the great story teller of all the birds and
animals of Kluskap's land. During the summer evenings he had many
friends who sat around and listened to his tales but during the
day they avoided turtle for they had work to do. When the cold Winter
came from the northland, most of the birds flew south to the home
of the warm Summer and many of the animals hibernated deep underground.
but Turtle did not know how to do this. He walked so slowly that
the cold Winter soon caught up with him and he nearly froze. He
was very cold and lonely..
When the next summer came turtle spoke to the geese about taking
him to the south when winter came. The geese liked turtle and indeed
he often had good stories but the geese loved to honk their own
stories far and wide while they travelled and so they agreed to
take him only if he didn't talk... Turtle agreed to this but the
geese knew Turtle would forget so they carried turtle by his mouth
on a stick and, of course, once off the ground he didn't dare open
his mouth.
Turtle did not enjoy his stay in the land of the Summer It was
too hot in his heavy shell and he could not find animals who were
interested in his stories but he listened and learned new stories.
The next summer when the geese brought him back to Kluskap's land
though he had learned the secret of how turtles can hibernate.
If you find a turtle hibernating from the cold of the great Winter
he will be deep under the soil going over his stories and patiently
waiting for Spring.
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